With the advent of Industry 4.0, digital manufacturing promises speed, directness, and flexibility — so it needs a tool that meets those demands. Fortunately, the right technology has been evolving and is poised to step into that role. Laser systems have long played an integral part in the evolution of medical device manufacturing, and many production planners already have experience with this highly mature industrial tool that is the perfect choice to meet the new requirements they are facing.

The structures of most medical devices are far too complex to mold as a single piece. Therefore, it is necessary to assemble their components into a finished product. While this may be done with mechanical fasteners or adhesives, plastic welding may offer significant advantages. This article discusses two important plastic welding technologies: ultrasonic welding and laser welding and their implications for medical device designers and manufacturers.

The increasing sophistication and complexity of medical devices is compounded by strict regulatory requirements that demand systems that can produce consistent, repeatable results. Automation has been key to achieving these goals while maximizing output and minimizing downtime.

For years, the medical device industry has been leading the adoption of additive manufacturing. With the evolution of high-precision printers that span a large offering of performance resins, thermoplastics, and metals, the small size and high customization requirements of today's medical components fit perfectly into the capabilities and value return of additive manufacturing. In addition, quality controls and regulatory adoption of numerous additive manufacturing technologies and materials are allowing designers, manufacturers, and end users unparalleled ability to design, validate, and bring to market the next generation of medical technology.

For many medical device manufacturers, the application of proprietary coatings and surface treatments can play a critical role in differentiating their products as they develop new devices and reimagine the next generation of their existing products. For products such as stainless steel guide wires, catheters, and vascular surgical tools, plasma-applied coatings offer properties that can distinguish them from their competitors. Coatings can provide everything from biocompatibility or lubricity to antimicrobial and anticorrosion properties. These modified surfaces can improve the functionality of devices such as intraluminal stents, occlusion balloons, and polymer coils.

Multipurpose functionality has become an expectation in the modern lifestyle. A washing machine is no longer just a washing machine but rather a computerized appliance that can automatically order its own detergent when it senses supplies are low. An alarm clock isn't only a device to wake you up. It's an Internet of Things-enabled personal assistant, capable of sharing the weather forecast, streaming your favorite songs on demand, and calculating how you're measuring up against your latest fitness goals. Our phones aren't just for talking. They're mini computers, calculators, cameras, video recorders, and audio players. Social media apps aren't just for keeping up with friends. If you like something you see on Pinterest, you can click and buy it instantly.

By using state-of-the-art production equipment and processes, machining tolerances are held extremely close on today’s multilumen and multi-layer medical tubing. It is important to note that any misalignment of the tools may be exaggerated in the final product output.

When a person suffers from degenerative disc disease, spine trauma, or cancer of the spine, the result is decreased stability that can produce pain — often severe — during normal activities. Surgeons will first attempt conservative measures such as cortisone injections and physical therapy to strengthen the muscles of the lower back, but if these conservative treatments are unsuccessful, the only alternative is to address the pain through surgery. This procedure, known as a fusion and fixation, prevents movement in the unstable portion of the spine, thus reducing the pain.

Connectors are getting smaller and denser. The question is, how small can connectors go? To answer this question, it is important to remember that the applications that use connectors demand a number of performance and reliability requirements, particularly in medical devices.

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Introducing Zeus LCP Monofilament

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Christopher Scott

To find out more about the expertise that Eurofins brings to this area, and the company's plans for expansion into the United States, Medical Device Briefs recently spoke with Christopher Scott, vice president of Eurofins Medical Device Testing.